- Sweet potatoes are root vegetables known for their rich, sweet flavor. For this reason, they are often used in sweet recipes as opposed to savory potato dishes. However, this is beginning to change as baked sweet potatoes, fries and purees begin to pop up on many restaurant menus. This nutritious vegetable is grown in the southern United States and is available year round, although peak season and increased availability come during November and December.
- Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse. The vibrant flesh provides beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E, all which are valuable antioxidants. Antioxidants help to battle free radical damage within the body leading to reduced risks of heart disease, cancers and dementia. The dietary fiber content promotes a healthy digestive system. This vegetable is also full of manganese, copper, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.
- Sweet potatoes originated in Central America. They were spread to many other parts of the world by way of European explorers in the 16th century. They are most popular in the U.S. during the winter holiday season where they often appear in pies or as a side dish sweetened with brown sugar or marshmallows. However, for other cultures, such as Asian and Latin American, sweet potatoes are a mainstay in local cuisine.
- There are at least 400 varieties of sweet potatoes. The potato flesh can range from a yellowish color to the bright orange most often associated with the vegetable's name. Surprisingly, one sweet potato variety has a bright purple flesh which only increases its unique nutritional benefits. When cooked, the texture of the flesh is used to classify sweet potatoes. Some have a very dry and grainy texture while others remain very moist and tender.
- What is often referred to in the U.S. as a yam is actually a sweet potato. A true yam is a root vegetable from a different variety of plant which is given the African name, nyami. When the orange-fleshed sweet potato came to the U.S. in the mid-20th century it was given the nickname "yam" from the word "nyami" to distinguish it from the varieties of sweet potatoes that already existed in the area. The truth is the popular orange potato is not a yam at all, but simply one of many types of sweet potato.
